Carly Schroeder biography

Born in Valparaiso, Indiana, Carly Schroeder began doing print work in Chicago at the age of three. By the time she was five, she'd landed her first role in a TV commercial. A little over a year later, actor Kin Shriner of the daytime soap opera Port Charles, spotted her in a Shake 'n' Bake commercial and recommended her to the casting director and producers, who'd been looking to cast a little girl as his daughter.

They agreed to fly her to Los Angeles, and she was given a four-year contract for the show. Her entire family, including her parents and younger brother Hunter, relocated to Los Angeles. As Serena Baldwin, Carly received a Young Star Award nomination in 1999 and two nominations for Young Artist Awards in 1999 and 2000. Carly wound up playing Serena in 480 episodes over a six year period, mostly on both Port Charles, but also in several episodes of General Hospital. She provided voices for Babe: Pig in the City (1998) and Toy Story 2 (1999) before making her TV movie debut as Susan Olsen/Cindy Brady in Growing Up Brady (2000), based on the behind-the-scenes book written by Barry Williams, who played Greg on the classic TV sitcom, The Brady Bunch.

After filming a lead role for a Disney channel pilot called Web Girl, Carly landed the role of the mischievous troublemaker Melina Bianco on Disney's number one show Lizzie McGuire, appearing on 12 episodes in 2002. She was then chosen to reprise her role in the big screen feature The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003).

Carly has also appeared on two episodes of Dawson's Creek and an episode of The George Lopez Show (playing a 15-year-old when she was just 11). Her first lead in a feature came with Mean Creek (2004), featuring a cast of young actors, including Rory Culkin as her boyfriend.

In her spare time, Carly enjoys scuba diving, swimming, playing soccer and horseback riding.